The Wave

Aging Trends in Chautauqua County

We can see the “wave” of Chautauqua County’s aging population by viewing a series of graphs of our county’s age distribution over the past several years.

Scroll through these yearly graphs and watch the yellow “wave” move slowly but surely from left (younger) to right (older).

Data is from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

In 2023, the wave was cresting in the 60-64 years old age range.

Soon it will move into the retirement years.

But it’s not only that the 65+ population in our county is swelling.

At the same time, the number of working-age adults is decreasing.